A Winter Haven man is behind bars after he committed lewd acts in front of an adult and four young children.
Thirty-year-old Tavarus Harrison of Winter Haven was taken into custody on July 18, 2025 after an adult female flagged down an officer who was working an off-duty detail in the area of 2nd St NW. The victim told the officer that Harrison had exposed himself to her after he called out her name while she was walking to her residence. The victim has known Harrison since childhood and was able to positively identify him.
Harrison was located on July 19, 2025 and taken into custody charged with one count of Exposure of Sexual Organs, a first-degree Misdemeanor.
Officers were also notified that four juveniles ranging in age 6 – 12 years-old had also encountered Harrison on July 17, 2025. The children informed officers that Harrison had been standing up against a wall near their residence “touching his private parts”.
Detectives took over the case and each child had a forensic interview that revealed Harrison was not only exposing himself but performing a lewd act in front of the children. Harrison was positively identified by all of the children.
On July 23, 2025, detectives filed four additional charges on Harrison, who was still in the Polk County Jail under the original case. The additional charges are four counts of Exhibition Offense on a Victim Under the Age of 16, which each are Second-Degree Felonies.
“I am so proud of these children stepping up and telling us about what they saw,” said Chief Vance Monroe. “The courage to say something speaks to the values that have been instilled in these kids.”
